When did the last Japanese soldier surrender in World War...

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Answer by JC
Submitted on 2/18/2007
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I don't have many details, but I believe the last hold-out was Captain Fumio Nakahira on Mindoro in the Philippines, who surrendered in April of 1980. (Sangrayban [January 1997; Philippines] and Yamakaw and Nakauchi [2005; Mindinao] were deemed not credible, and Tanaka and Hashimoto [1989; Thailand] knew the war was over.) The issue hit the public consciousness in the early 1970's, when Yokoi [January 1972; Guam], Teruo [December 1973; Indonesia] and Onada [March 1974; Philippines] surrendered in three successive years. Yokoi and Onada are probably the two best-known hold-outs, their respective experiences having been chronicled in "The Last Japanese Soldier" by Sankei Shimbun Fuji Terebi Tokubetsu Shuzaihan and "The Emperor's Last Soldiers" by Ito Masashi. More information can be found here: http://www.wanpela.com/holdouts/index.html

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Question by Amanda
Submitted on 3/16/2004
Related FAQ: [soc.history.war.world-war-ii] Frequently Asked Questions
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When did the last Japanese soldier surrender in World War 2?

Answer by Tiede
Submitted on 4/25/2004
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1974

Answer by someone
Submitted on 8/19/2004
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Hiroo Onoda holds the honor of the last Japanese soldier to surrender, finally packing it in in 1974. Attempts were made to persuade Hiroo to surrender, including appeals from relatives. It took his former commanding officer to convince Hiroo the war was over. He had been holding out Lubang Island in the Phillipines. After spending some time in Japan, he retired to a ranch in Brazil.

Answer by Jim
Submitted on 5/20/2005
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The last Japanese soldier to surrender was Captain Fumio Nakahira who held out until April, 1980, before being discovered at Mt. Halcon on Mindoro Island in the Philippines. Before that, there was Onoda Hiroo, discovered in the jungle of Lubang Island on March 11, 1974, twenty-nine years after the war ended. He has since published a book 'No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War'. Nakamura Teruo was discovered on the island of Morotai on December 18, 1974, still believing the war was on. Sergeant Yoloi Shoichi survived in the jungles of Guam until found on January 24, 1972. He died in September, 1997 at the age of 82.

Answer by Mark
Submitted on 5/21/2005
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April 1980 Philippines - Mindoro Island Captain of the Japanese Imperial Army, Fumio Nakahira, held out until April 1980 before being discovered at Mt. Halcon.

Answer by Rooster
Submitted on 8/12/2005
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Jan 24, 1972

Answer by tigertiger1953
Submitted on 12/18/2005
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That was Lt Onada. but two more were possibly found in may 2005 and there may be forty more in remote islands in the phillipnes. See www.news.bbc.co.uk./2/hl/asia-pacific/4585287.stm

Answer by Lynn Lynn
Submitted on 4/22/2006
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15 August 1945

Answer by Doug Kostelnik
Submitted on 5/8/2006
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The last Japanese Soldier Surrendered on 12 24Jan72 on the Island of Guam in the town of Talofofo (I personally visited the town in 1985 and talked to the mayor about the incident and saw, from a distance, the place where the soldier lived). The soldier's name was Shoichi Yokoi. He died 22Sep97 of heart failure.

Answer by TJ
Submitted on 2/7/2007
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